Construction of tanks, reservoirs, and the like.



E. R. CALTHROP81 F. G. LYNDE. CONSTRUCTION OF TANKS, RESERVOIRS, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27.1914.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918. a 6 8 Wibn 65565."

' TED STATES PATENT @FFEQE.

EVERABD RICHARD GALTHROP, OF LONDON, AND FRANCIS GASGOIGNE LYNDE, 0F BELVEDERE, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE VIBROCEL GQMPANY LIMITED. OF

LONDON, ENGLAND, (A COMPANY.)

CONSTRUCTION OF TANKS, RESERVOIRS, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

Application filed March 27, 1914 Serial No. 827,643.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, EVERARD RICHARD CALTHROP and FRANCIS GASCOIGNE LYNDE, subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at Eldon Street House, Eldon street, London, and Belvedere, Kent, England, respectively, have invented new and useful Improvements in and Relating to the Construction of Tanks, Reservoirs, and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to the construction of tanks, reservoirs and the like, more particularly such as are employed for the storage in large quantities of petroleum and like combustible fluids.

The chief object of the invention is to provide a tank or reservoir in which large quantities of inflammable liquids may be stored in safety without the risk of serious damage by fire or explosion due to the accumulation ,ofexplosive gases or other causes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of constructing inclosed tanks or reservoirs the size and capacity of which are only limited by the space at disposal or in other words to so distribute the crushing and other stresses throughout the whole structure that hugh reservoirs may be constructed without the risk of them collapsing by their own weight.

With the above objects in view and such others as may hereinafter appear or are incidental thereto our invention in its broadest aspect may be said to be embodied in a tank or reservoir comprising a plurality of juxtaposed polygonal cells of reinforced concrete the component parts of which are in the course of construction interknitted to form a homogeneous honeycomb like structure and having a roof and a base common to all the cells whereby they are hermetically sealed and means for introducing and withdrawingliquid from said cells.

More specifically considered our invention consists in constructing a tank or reservoir of large size from reinforced vibrated concreate and composed of'a plurality of vertical juxtaposed polygonal cells the component parts of which are interknitted to given off by the liquid insaid cells and for I returning said gases to the cells as the liquid is withdrawn therefrom.

In constructing a tank or reservoir under our invention the concrete of which it is composed is preferably vibrated mainly while in site before it becomes set to consolidate and compact the particles together thus driving out air and surplus moisture rendering it free from minute hair cracks and increasing to a remarkable extent its density and resistance to crushing stress. This vibration may be effected in any suitable Inanner preferably by applying a mechanically or power-driven hammer to the boards or shuttering forming the molds for the concrete whereby a series of rapidly delivered blows may be given tosaid shuttering.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a sectional plan of a tank or reservoir embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation thereof parts being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the general arrangement of tank and gas holders to be hereinafter more particularly referred to. i

In the preferred embodiment of the invention wefirst construct a base 1 preferably of reinforced vibrated concreteand tively the apertures 5, serving to allow passage of the liquid from one cell to another and the apertures 4 serving for the passage of any gases which may be liberated from the li uid in the cells. 5

In the example illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 we have shown a gallery 6 located in the middle of the reservoir and communicating with a sump 7 this being a convenient method of locating the various oil air and gas pipes and valves as it. admits of ready access to said valves and pipes for the purpose to be, hereinafter described.

The rows 8 of cells next the gallery 6 are are in communicationby means ofthe apertures a with the other cells constituting the tank any gases liberated by the liquid may be drawn off throughthe main 10 and stored in a gas'holder or gas holders 11 (Fig. 3).

The bottoms of the cells as above stated communicate by means of the apertures 5 with each other and the rows 8 of cells are connected by the pipes 12 with the oil mains 13 which are connected to the discharge and filling main 14 appropriate pumps 15 being provided whereby the oil may be pumped from the cells as required.

In some cases we may find it desirable to divide the structure into groups of cells in order to minimize the risk of fire or explo sion or to admit of more than one quality or kind of liquid being stored in the same reservoir for example the cells a Fig. 1 may communicate with each other and with the gas 7 main 10 while the group of cells 7) in like manner communicate with each other and with the main 10 so that in the event of an explosion occurring the subsequent fire would be reduced to the groups of cells in which it originated.

To facilitate the storing of different kinds or qualities of liquid the pipes 12 from the several groups of cells may be so'arranged that the liquid may-be discharged'without interfering with the liquid in the remaining cells thus facilitating blending of the liquids or otherwise.

Means are provided whereby compressed air may be introduced into the cellsafter the liquid has been drawn olffor cleansing purposes. This may be effected by providing an air compressing plant 17 (Fig. 3) of suitable kind adapted to supply compressed air through the pipe 18 and branch pipes 19 to the gas main 10. 20 indicates a pipe for the exhaust air from the pumps 15 which is discharged into the gallery 6. I

It will of course be understood that the various pipes above described are controlled by suitable cocks and valves to admit of the several operations of filling, emptying and cleaning being effected.

It is of course to be understood that the cells may be of any suitable polygonal form as rectangular for example instead of hexagonal as above described. 7 a

WVhere a tank of reservoir under our invention is required to be protected from naval, aerial or other attack a covering of earth 16 of any desired thickness may be placed over the deck or roof thus protecting it and rendering it bomb-proof a result which is highly desirable where the tank is emploved for storing oil at naval or military depots.

Where a tank or reservoir under this invention is ofconsiderable size it may be necessary to afford additional strengthto the outer rows of cells and this may be effected by placing circular molds within the polygo: nal cells and casting concrete between the molds and the inner surfaces of the cell Walls. After the concrete has been vibrated and becomes set the molds are removed thus forming cells the interior cross section of which is circular and the exterior polygonal.

It will be seen that a tank or reservoir under this invention may be constructed of a size and capacity only limited by the space at disposal as the crushing and other stresses are equally distributed throughout while the weight of the roofand of the covering of earth where this is provided-is also equally distributed over and supported by all the vertical walls forming the cells thus rendering it possible to construct reservoirs of immense capacity without the risk of them colla'psing. i

What we claim is: ,7

l. A tank or reservoir, comprising a plurality of vertical juxtaposed polygonal cells of reinforced vibrated concrete having abase and a roof common to all'said cells, apertured walls in said cells, the apertures being located near the bottom and top of said Walls to permit of the passage of gases andliquid from one cell to another, a liquid supply and eduction main in communication with said cells, a gas main for withdrawing gases from the cells and for returning said gases to the cells to replace liquid withdrawn therefrom, and agasometer in communication with said cells for storing gases withdrawn therefrom.

2. A tank or reservoir, comprising a plu- .1

rality of vertical juxtaposed polygonal cells of reinforced vibrated concrete, having a base and a roof common to all said cells, apertured Walls in said cells, the apertures being located near the bottom and top of. i said walls to permit of the passage of gases and liquid from one cell to another, a gallery located in the middle of the reservoir, air, liquid and gas mains located in said gallery, a plurality of pipes forming communication between said mains and said Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

' Washington, D. Q. 

